Pregame: Illinois vs Duquesne, Saturday, March 23rd, 7:40pm CT, TNT
- Status
I think Illini played the likes of Duquesne, Depauw, Lasalle back in the 60's early 70's and were never easy non conference wins. We have improved... Only had to have 3 Strong drinks before halftime today
Illini4Chief
- TENNESSEE
FOCUS!!!!
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Someone had asked earlier about the history of us having a favorable upset in our region when we were a decently high seed, such as #11 Duquesne upsetting #6 BYU. Since the modern seeding started in 1985, this is the history. Limiting it to top 5 seeds, since a #5 seed is more or less the same as a "protected" #4 seed.
1985: #3 Illinois makes Sweet Sixteen. No upsets, we had to beat #6 Georgia and lost to #2 Georgia Tech in the Sweet Sixteen.
1986: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, we lost to #5 Alabama in the Second Round and would have had to play #1 Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen.
1987: #3 Illinois loses First Round. Yes, we all know the Austin Peay disaster. However, there were no upsets waiting ... we would have had to beat #6 Providence and #2 Alabama.
1988: #3 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, we lost to #6 Villanova in the Second Round and would have faced #2 Kentucky.
1989: #1 Illinois makes Final Four. Zero upsets, after our First Round win, we beat #9 Ball State, #4 Louisville and #2 Syracuse to get to the Final Four.
1990: #5 Illinois loses First Round. While we would have had to beat #4 Arkansas in the Second Round, #8 seed North Carolina knocked off #1 Oklahoma in our region ... and proceeded to lose by 23 to #4 Arkansas. And then #4 Arkansas made the Final Four by beating #10 Texas in the Elite Eight because of two upsets in the bottom of the bracket.
1998: #5 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, we would have had to beat #1 Arizona if we got past #4 Maryland.
2000: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, #5 Florida (who beat us) had to go through #1 Duke and #3 Oklahoma State to make the Final Four.
2001: #1 Illinois makes Elite Eight. No upsets, we ran through #4 Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen before going down to #2 Arizona (the first Illini game I remember).
2002: #4 Illinois makes Sweet Sixteen. As another poster mentioned, we WERE helped out here by #12 Creighton taking down #5 Florida in the First Round.
2003: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, if we had beat #5 Notre Dame, we'd have #1 Arizona waiting.
2004: #5 Illinois makes Sweet Sixteen. No upsets, we beat #5 Cincinnati (like a drum!) before falling short vs. #1 Duke.
2005: #1 Illinois makes National Championship Game. After beating #9 Nevada, we did get to face #12 UW-Milwaukee (who had just knocked off #5 Alabama and #4 Boston College).
2006: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. While we would have had to beat #1 UConn in the Sweet Sixteen, #11 George Mason waited in the Elite Eight.
2021: #1 Illinois loses Second Round. Frustrating missed opportunity ... if we got past #8 Loyola, we would have faced #12 Oregon State for a trip to the Elite Eight.
2022: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, we had #1 Arizona waiting.
TL;DR
So, 2024 (#11 Duquesne standing between us and a Sweet Sixteen) is one of the most favorable setups we have ever had to make the Second Weekend. GET IT DONE!
P.S. I was not around for 1990, but MAN that one seems like a huge wasted opportunity. We lost by 2 to #12 Dayton who then lost by 2 to #4 Arkansas ... who would go on to the Final Four.
1985: #3 Illinois makes Sweet Sixteen. No upsets, we had to beat #6 Georgia and lost to #2 Georgia Tech in the Sweet Sixteen.
1986: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, we lost to #5 Alabama in the Second Round and would have had to play #1 Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen.
1987: #3 Illinois loses First Round. Yes, we all know the Austin Peay disaster. However, there were no upsets waiting ... we would have had to beat #6 Providence and #2 Alabama.
1988: #3 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, we lost to #6 Villanova in the Second Round and would have faced #2 Kentucky.
1989: #1 Illinois makes Final Four. Zero upsets, after our First Round win, we beat #9 Ball State, #4 Louisville and #2 Syracuse to get to the Final Four.
1990: #5 Illinois loses First Round. While we would have had to beat #4 Arkansas in the Second Round, #8 seed North Carolina knocked off #1 Oklahoma in our region ... and proceeded to lose by 23 to #4 Arkansas. And then #4 Arkansas made the Final Four by beating #10 Texas in the Elite Eight because of two upsets in the bottom of the bracket.
1998: #5 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, we would have had to beat #1 Arizona if we got past #4 Maryland.
2000: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, #5 Florida (who beat us) had to go through #1 Duke and #3 Oklahoma State to make the Final Four.
2001: #1 Illinois makes Elite Eight. No upsets, we ran through #4 Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen before going down to #2 Arizona (the first Illini game I remember).
2002: #4 Illinois makes Sweet Sixteen. As another poster mentioned, we WERE helped out here by #12 Creighton taking down #5 Florida in the First Round.
2003: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, if we had beat #5 Notre Dame, we'd have #1 Arizona waiting.
2004: #5 Illinois makes Sweet Sixteen. No upsets, we beat #5 Cincinnati (like a drum!) before falling short vs. #1 Duke.
2005: #1 Illinois makes National Championship Game. After beating #9 Nevada, we did get to face #12 UW-Milwaukee (who had just knocked off #5 Alabama and #4 Boston College).
2006: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. While we would have had to beat #1 UConn in the Sweet Sixteen, #11 George Mason waited in the Elite Eight.
2021: #1 Illinois loses Second Round. Frustrating missed opportunity ... if we got past #8 Loyola, we would have faced #12 Oregon State for a trip to the Elite Eight.
2022: #4 Illinois loses Second Round. No upsets, we had #1 Arizona waiting.
TL;DR
So, 2024 (#11 Duquesne standing between us and a Sweet Sixteen) is one of the most favorable setups we have ever had to make the Second Weekend. GET IT DONE!
P.S. I was not around for 1990, but MAN that one seems like a huge wasted opportunity. We lost by 2 to #12 Dayton who then lost by 2 to #4 Arkansas ... who would go on to the Final Four.
Would like to see us run a couple set plays for Ty and Quincy to start the game and see them see the ball go through the hoop, I think it will help us in the long run to have them contribute 6-8 ppg.
Let's not Forget Chattanooga during the Lon Kruger era.. Similar situation.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
How could there be so few upsets? This year is really an anomaly.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Among other reasons this is a really huge game, this is a hinge moment for this fanbase's relationship with Brad Underwood. It won't be the same after this, one way or the other.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Omg...I split for emphasis.....and of course we all know this....but to see it.....for the love of all that is orange and sacred.
Thank you Josh Whitman. Thank you Brad Underwood. Thank you x googleplex.
I'm glad Duquesne won. Didn't want to play BYU. For some of you younger posters. here's a memory I have from '53 or '54. Duquesne had a quality 6-11 center named Walter Dukes who (for a reason I can't recall) notified Harry Combes he wanted to transfer to Illinois. Harry discouraged him--told him he needed to think that through. Told him he might regret it later, leaving all his friends and teammates behind. Most everyone I knew was disappointed, but gave Harry a lot of credit. Good display of character. Illini were good in them days--Had exceptional talent in Johnny Kerr, Paul Judson, and others.
Limiting it to a 5 seed leaves out Chattanooga '97 though. That's the worst one. We had an 11-14-10 path to the Elite 8.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
FIFY..............
I'd say either mid to late afternoon at the earliest with more than likely it being an evening session game. My assumption is that the games in Charlotte will be the early games on CBS on Saturday.
Just no singing SportsCenter jingle in the locker room please!
IlliniMike_Aurora
Straight outta Champaign
ugh 1985 - mark price and georgia tech,
thanks for the reminder :0)
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Others might be dancing, but no one else has a DANCING BEAR.
I like our chances.
I like our chances.
Illinois is 2-1 all time vs Duquesne
Dec 9, 1988 in Champaign - Won 112-81
Dec 29, 1973 in NY, NY - Lost 85-83
Mar 22, 1952 in Chicago - Won 74-68
Because Samford plays later
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Apologies if it’s been mentioned, but will we know Saturday game times tonight? Or wait until the whole First Round is over?
Hope so. 12:30 flight has open seats…
If it stays with Tru, then they have two games with the first one starting around 6. My guess it will be that one. Time to go get more wings.
Winning (within the rules) matters. Round 1, check. Round 2, coming on up. Let's Gooooooooooooo (aaaaaa ... llllll) ...ooopps! Soccer (football) lingo took over! 
GOOOOO!
GOOOOO!- Status